FRANCISTOWN - Two Zimbabweans and one man from Botswana appeared in court here on Friday for unlawful possession of diamonds believed to have been smuggled from Zimbabwe.Tapiwa Tategu (30), Nkululeko Moyo (37) and Mpho Sediba (38) appeared before Francistown Chief Magistrate, Mokwadi Gabanagae, following their arrest on March 15 at a Francistown Shopping Complex where there were selling diamonds believed to have been smuggled from Zimbabwes Chiadzwa fields.
Prosecutor Boikhutso Ntalabgwe told the court that the three were diamond dealers smuggling diamonds from Zimbabwe, and trading the precious stones in Botswanas streets without a licence, authorization or exemption certificate. The case was postponed to March 30 for trial.
There has been rampant looting of Chiadzwa diamonds by Zanu (PF) government and military bosses in recent years.
Human rights groups have been pushing for a ban on Zimbabwean diamonds but last November, the country escaped a Kimberly Process ban with the global body giving Harare a June 2010 deadline to make reforms to comply with its regulations.
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